"OS X 10.9, which is internally codenamed 'Cabernet', will focus on various 'power-user' enhancements and take core features from iOS, according to our sources. Unlike operating system updates such as OS X Leopard and OS X Lion, OS X 10.9 will likely not be an overhauled approach to how the operating system feels and functions." Features for power users and features from iOS? Seems like an oxymoron. Still, if they manage to finally fix the Finder and Spaces, I'll be happy.

It depends on what you are trying to achieve. I'm looking for a file, I go to spotlight, I type "myfile.whatever", spotlight finds me a list of files. One can do this on a folder level with in Finder, and get to pick relative or global as part of the process.

But it doesn't work for hidden files and folders, which is almost always what I am using Cmd+Sht+G to get to... I do development and there are alot of important files buried in hidden folders in my home directory that I need to get to now and then...

This might not be the way you are used to working, but it works well enough. It definitely is more the case of "not my way of working" rather than "not correct" though.

Spotlight simply doesn't work at all for the scenario I am describing.

I can't think of a reason why I would not just navigate to a specific directory in the file system otherwise.

Because it is hidden and you can't in Finder unless you change the global behavior - and I don't want to change the behavior because I don't want my finder windows muddied up dot files. I use "Open Folder" when I need to get to a hidden directory. Of course there are other ways to deal with this - I just think having it available on the toolbar as a button makes sense is all.